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Wärtsilä deepens its presence in Brazilian waters

At the end of August, Wärtsilä received a significant order to supply the propulsion solutions for six new offshore pipe-laying vessels being built by IHC Merwede, a global leader in the supply of vessels and equipment. Three of the ships are to be built for Subsea 7, a seabed-to-surface engineering, construction, and services contractor to the offshore energy industry. The other three were ordered by Seabras Sapura, the partnership entity of Sapura Kencana and Seadrill.

Both Subsea 7 and Sapura Kencana already have vessels with similar Wärtsilä equipment installed, and Wärtsilä has enjoyed a long-standing and successful relationship with IHC Merwede. Furthermore, Wärtsilä has an existing worldwide services and spare parts contract with Subsea 7.

All six vessels are scheduled for delivery during 2015 and 2016, and each will serve the Brazilian offshore market on behalf of Petrobras, the multi-national energy corporation. Wärtsilä signed its supply order for the first vessel in the second quarter of 2013, and the remaining orders in the third quarter. The scope of supply for each ship comprises six 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines, two transverse thrusters, two retractable thrusters, and three steerable underwater de-mountable thrusters. Wärtsilä’s ability to secure easy and quick changing of the underwater de-mountable thrusters was especially important to the customer.

The contracts call for a tight delivery schedule, and Wärtsilä’s ability to meet deadlines while supplying equipment and machinery that provide the necessary quality, reliability and efficiency was another key factor.

“These orders underscore Wärtsilä’s outstanding reputation for serving the offshore sector with solutions that meet the most demanding expectations,” commented Aaron Bresnahan, Vice President Sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power. “The delivery schedule is challenging, but we have frequently demonstrated that our world-class manufacturing and logistics processes can handle fast-track projects such as these.”